It’s long been known that any amount of alcohol is not good for the body – and now new research has shed light on its potential harm.
What causes more than 5% of all cancer cases? drinking alcoholAccording to the Cancer Progress Report 2024 of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR).
Among modifiable risk factors for cancer, alcohol is the third largest factor, after obesity (7.6% of cases) and cigarette smoking (19.3%).
Quit drinking alcohol to reduce cancer risk, report suggests
“Excessive alcohol consumption increases the risk of six different diseases types of cancer“Including some types of head and neck cancers, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, and breast, colorectal, liver, and stomach cancers,” Rajarshi Sengupta, PhD, lead author of the AACR Cancer Progress Report 2024, said in a statement emailed to Fox News Digital. ,
According to the American Association for Cancer Research’s Cancer Progress Report 2024, more than 5% of all cancer cases are caused by drinking alcohol. (iStock)
“Ahead, research shows “Alcohol consumption at a young age may increase the risk of cancer later in life.”
The report said that based on these findings, limiting or eliminating alcohol could reduce the risk of developing alcohol-related cancers by 8% and the risk of all cancers by 4%.
Addiction experts warn of risks
There is an ongoing “roller coaster of information” about whether alcohol is harmful, according to addiction psychiatrist Dr. Adam Scioli of Karen Treatment Centers in Pennsylvania.
Scioli, who is not affiliated with the AACR, told Fox News Digital, “There have been reports for years that it could be beneficial to one’s health — but now we know that alcohol consumption modifies the risk for cancer. is one of the factors.”
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According to Scioli, about 75,000 Americans each year are diagnosed with cancer that is linked in some way to alcohol use.
They warned that the more alcohol someone drinks – both in quantity and frequency – the greater the risk.
Among modifiable risk factors for cancer, alcohol is the third largest factor, after obesity (7.6% of cases) and cigarette smoking (19.3%). (iStock)
“Alcohol is a poison,” Scioli said.
“We’ve known for a long time that it affects multiple organs, essentially starting in the brain and working its way down Colorectal system,
Is there a ‘safe’ amount?
Alcohol consumption by women once a day or less was defined as moderate alcohol consumption.
For men, this is two drinks or less per day, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
“We have long known that alcohol has effects on any organ, starting with the brain and working its way up to the colorectal system.”
“Drinking alcohol in moderation may increase your risk of death and chronic disease,” the agency says on its website.
“Even low level alcohol use (Less than one drink per day) may increase the risk of some cancers.”
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Scioli agreed, emphasizing that “We can say with certainty that nothing has been added to health benefit To drink alcohol.”
“The line between safety and danger is debatable, and different for each person.”
According to Sengupta, while risk factors such as tobacco use are widely known, public awareness of the link between alcohol and cancer is still low.
According to the CDC, moderate alcohol consumption is defined as one or less drink a day for women and two drinks or less for men. (iStock)
According to AACR data, most Americans (51%) do not know that alcohol increases cancer risk.
“This has been flying under the radar for too long – especially given the number of Americans who meet the criteria for alcohol use disorder, which is expected to be approximately 29 million Americans in 2023,” Scioli said.
What needs to be changed?
According to Scioli, the good news is that with modifiable risk factors like alcohol, reducing intake reduces the risk.
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As the report states, people who succeed reduce their drinking Or staying below those moderate risk levels will reduce overall cancer risk, he said.
One expert said that about 75,000 Americans each year are diagnosed with cancer that is linked in some way to alcohol consumption. (iStock)
Scioli said, “We need to do a better job of making the public aware of the dangers of drinking alcohol – especially moderate to heavy drinking.”
“And we need to make the public aware that there are mechanisms by which they can get help if they are unable to control their drinking or unable to quit on their own.”
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To help raise awareness, AACR’s Sengupta called for public messaging campaigns, “such as displaying cancer-specific warning labels alcoholic beverages,
Additionally, he told Fox News Digital, “Effective clinical strategies that reduce or eliminate alcohol consumption should be considered to reduce the burden of alcohol-related cancers.”
